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Rays' Cash worries visa issues may stall Colome

 
Rays pitcher Alex Colome is in the Dominican Republic thanks to visa issues.  CHRIS ZUPPA   |   Times
Rays pitcher Alex Colome is in the Dominican Republic thanks to visa issues. CHRIS ZUPPA | Times
Published Feb. 28, 2015

PORT CHARLOTTE — As the Rays prepare for today's first full-squad workout, manager Kevin Cash said he's concerned about the one player still absent — RHP Alex Colome, who is being delayed because of visa issues in the Dominican Republic.

"It starts to be a concern already," Cash said. "Hopefully he's on track. We're getting reports he's throwing bullpens and stuff. Still, you want him here."

Cash said Colome's issues are getting closer to resolution, but every day he's not at camp is a day he's not with his teammates, coaches and trainers.

The delay is also keeping Cash and his staff from evaluating Colome, who has appeared in eight major-league games over the past two seasons. Colome, 26, could earn a spot in the rotation, at least until LHP Matt Moore returns from elbow surgery, or he could end up in the bullpen.

"I'll have a sense whenever he does get here," Cash said, "but I would definitely say we're counting on him to be right in the mix of everything that's going on."

Colome remains the only one of the Rays' 63 players not yet in camp, after nonroster OF Boog Powell reported Friday.

Powell, 22, came to the Rays in the Ben Zobrist trade. He said he was excited for the opportunity to prove himself and try to improve on last season, when he led Oakland's farm system with a .343 average in A ball.

"It went from being with the A's in the big-league camp to having an opportunity to come here and get the chance I want," said Powell, 22.

ON INTRODUCTIONS: Though most of the team has been in camp for several days, Cash said he was still looking forward to the first official day of meetings and stretches as a unit.

"Everybody being here so early's been great," Cash said, "but it's still something to be said for that first official day, where everybody's in the same room, in the same group, on the field stretching."

Cash declined to reveal his preseason message to the team — which isn't expected to include mottos, a la predecessor Joe Maddon — but said he plans to keep his first morning address short.

"Our guys want to get on the field," Cash said. "The last thing they want to do is sit in here. They've got tee times at 4:30."

MORE MOORE: Moore continues to work back from April's Tommy John surgery and threw about 25 fastballs in his bullpen session.

Moore and hard-throwing RHP Jose Dominguez were the only two pitchers to throw bullpen sessions Friday, and Moore said he had to check himself at times against Dominguez, whose fastball tops 100 mph.

"I kind of have to tell myself to back off a little bit," Moore said. "I'm not where he is right now."

Moore expects to begin throwing breaking balls in a few weeks and is targeting a return in June or July.

NEW RULES: The Rays' brass met with MLB officials in the morning to talk about some of the new rules.

Cash said the meeting with MLB senior vice president of baseball operations Peter Woodfork and umpire supervisor Charlie Reliford was informative but didn't reveal any red flags, especially with the pace of play rules.

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"They are very aware of some of the limitations and stuff," Cash said. "We're going to do everything we can to work with them on all those spots."

MISCELLANY: Cash said the coaching staff has talked about who will be the starter when spring training games begin Thursday, but no decision has been reached. … St. Petersburg native and Northeast High graduate Doug Waechter will serve as an analyst for some Rays telecasts, Sun Sports announced Friday. … The Rays have released former first-round pick Josh Sale. The 23-year-old outfielder and No. 17 overall pick in 2010 was suspended three times in two years for failed drug tests.

Contact Matt Baker at mbaker@tampabay.com. Follow @MBakerTBTimes.